Personnel committee refers comp-time policy changes to full council with recommendation for approval

Butte City’s Personnel Committee voted on June 24 to send proposed amendments to the city-county personnel policy on comp time and courtesy hours (communication 2026-283) to the full council with a recommendation for approval.

The changes clarify limits on accumulated courtesy/comp time and exceptions; human resources director Beth Worm said the primary substantive change is a cap on hours and rules for carrying those hours forward. "I don't think it changes any of the work at the end of the day. It's still an exempt position. The only thing is the cap and being able to carry it forward," Worm said.

The committee spent most of its discussion on how caps affect exempt positions and long-term payouts. Commissioner Fischer said he had not understood a prior request from a deputy county attorney and asked whether the county attorney's presentation that evening would seek policy changes or only office-level pay adjustments. "I didn't realize at the time... I didn't understand what he's asking for," Fischer said, noting concerns about fair comp-time recovery.

Committee members voiced a common concern that allowing large balances of accrued comp time can create large payouts when employees retire and can undermine vacancy-savings expectations. One committee member summarized the practical effect during the discussion: the amendment would limit the amount individuals can accumulate (committee members referenced a 160-hour cap during discussion) and reduce the number of hours carried forward year-to-year, which committee members said would help manage long-term liabilities.

After discussion the committee moved to refer communication 2026-283 to the full council. The motion was seconded, then amended to include a recommendation for approval by the full council. During the vote one member opposed and the motion passed.

The referral sends the proposed amendments to the full council for consideration; the committee's recommendation to approve will accompany the communication. The full council is expected to take up the item at a later meeting.